Growing Courage

I was recently asked this question by W. David O. Taylor:

"What are the things you do on a regular basis (activities, exercises, disciplines, habits) to grow the muscle of courage in order to face (and by God’s grace overcome) the fears that typically accompany the making of new art?"

Three practices I’ve found enormously helpful are fasting, journaling, and regular reassessments of "what’s mine to do."

"Excelsior" watercolor by Peter Assad

1) Fasting - when you go a predetermined stretch of time without food, despite hunger signals, and you make it to the end not only ok but more alive, it reminds you that you can withstand more than you think. It’s a symbolic way of building up the resilience necessary to go long lengths of time without the response you hoped for so deferred hope doesn’t make your heart so sick.

2) Journaling - for years now, I’ve chronicled various encouragements I’ve received from others (typically in response to things I’ve created/given/said/etc). When the low points hit after releasing something (because I can’t stop the lows from hitting), I go back to reread the various ways God has refreshed others through the work he’s allowed me to be part of in the past.

3) “What’s Mine to Do” - I have a personal prayer retreat I do just about monthly where I set aside a 4-hour chunk of time to commune with God, lay everything out before him, worship, walk, examine my heart, etc… by the end of that time, I have clarity as to what the next month’s activities need to be because my soul is in alignment with God. I’ve never made any big decision or worked on any major project without first vetting it through this process.

“What’s Mine to Do?” (in a nutshell)

Basically, I block out 4 hours of time and walk myself through this flow:

30 minutes - data dump

30 minutes - worship through song

30 minutes - walk through nature

60 minutes - walk through scriptures

60 minutes - 10Qs*/Schedule/Execute

30 minutes Debrief

*10Qs to Refocus & Reprioritize your life:

1. What is my single greatest strength?

2. What 3 decisions are causing me stress?

3. What tasks/duties/responsibilities/situations are overwhelming me?

4. What impassable roadblocks have me stuck?

5. If I could only do 3 things before I die, what would I want to do?

6. What committees/roles should I resign from or drop out of?

7. What deadlines/decisions/etc can I postpone?

8. Put together a To Do list of remaining things from Data Dump.

9. What things on my To Do list can someone else do at least 80% as well as me?

10. Who can I invite to join me in accomplishing the rest of my To Do list?

“What’s Mine to Do?” (Extended edition)

The data dump is me writing out, on paper, EVERYTHING that comes to mind (whether it’s decisions, fears, secret sins, conversations I’m dreading, people’s names, deadlines, etc). I take thirty minutes to write it all out on paper, and then, let the paper bear the weight of it for awhile while I do the rest of it.

And if I get stuck and can’t think of anything, I pray Psalm 139:23-34 which says “Search me O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the everlasting way.” Typically, before I’m done praying that, the Lord surfaces yet another few items that need to go on that data dump sheet of paper for a while.

Then i worship through song... singing, playing, etc. sometimes I’ll open a psalm and make a song up as I’m going. Other times, I’ll just play piano and let the music speak. It’s just a time of worship without the weight of all those things keeping me down.

Then I go for a walk. The created world reveals the Creator, if only we will pay attention. Martin Luther said “Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” I love that. Reminds me of Romans 1 where Paul says the invisible attributes of God are clearly displayed in the world he has made.

Then, I read the Bible. It’s not something set but something I sense the Lord telling me to read in that moment. Often I’ll just grab an epistle or minor prophet and read it slowly start to finish. Other times, I’ll do this with one of the gospels. Without fail though, God has spoken specifically to something on my data dump sheet through it. It’s such a powerful time, but it’s all about spending time with God.

Then I do those 10 questions I shared above. It’s not important to answer all of them perfectly but Questions 1-5 can be helpful in jogging the mind and getting it focused. Questions 6-10 then are where you bring the data dump sheet back and start working through it seriously till you’re left with a to do list of where to go, what to do, then, commit to doing it! Sometimes the takeaway is PRAY for the item on the list. Other times, it’s to talk with someone and invite them into doing something with me (or to delegate it). Other times, it’s to cross something off my list because it’s not helpful or what God wants me to do in this moment. Whatever the case, ‘schedule and execute’ is all about putting those things in my calendar and setting deadlines. If it’s not on my calendar, it’s not in my life!

Execute, then, is about sending whatever texts/emails/calls needed to get the ball rolling.

The debrief at the end is where I call someone and share with them what I learned and heard God saying, because that sharing is a great way to solidify what I’ve gleaned and also gain some accountability to put in the work in the days and weeks ahead.

What courageous next step do you need to take? Maybe these can be a help for you as they have been for me.